India’s power demand hits record as heatwave tests grid limits

India’s electricity demand hit an all-time high of 256.11 gigawatts (GW) on Sunday, April 26, surpassing the previous record of 252.07 gigawatts set just one day earlier, according to data from Grid Controller of India.

Both records easily exceeded the previous high set in 2024, and demand is now rapidly approaching the government’s summer projection of 270 GW.

Officials said power demand remained relatively subdued in early April due to unseasonal rains, but a sustained rise in temperatures since mid-April has driven a steep increase in consumption.

Temperatures in several regions have risen more than five degrees Celsius above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department, which has issued warnings of an intense heatwave from April through June across the northern Indo-Gangetic plains, central India, and eastern coastal states.

The surge reflects a structural shift in how India’s grid is being stressed.

Experts noted that each one-degree Celsius rise above 24 degrees Celsius adds approximately 7 gigawatts to India’s electricity demand, a figure that has grown from 4 gigawatts in 2019 as air-conditioner penetration has increased.

Consumption now spikes not only during afternoon hours but also extends well into evenings, placing pressure on both generation and distribution networks.

To manage the strain, the government has directed coal plants to defer planned maintenance and operate at full capacity through June 2026.

The crisis carries an additional dimension. Indian users shifting from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to induction-based cooking amid shortages caused by the Middle East war could add a further 13 to 27 GW of demand at the distribution level, compounding an already strained outlook for the weeks ahead.

Investor sentiment around the power sector has responded sharply, with Adani Power Ltd shares surging more than 44% in April to an all-time high, while NTPC, JSW Energy, and Tata Power have also outperformed the broader market.